James c



(N0 Model.)

J. O. REED. Circuit Breaker for Relays and Sounders.

No. 237,776. Patented Feb. 15, I881.

Fig-1- NJHERS, PHOTO LH'HOGRAFHE? WASMNGTON 0 c UNITED STATES PATENTFFICE.

JAMES C. REED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 237,776, dated February15, 1881.

Application filed June 11, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES (J. REED, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCircuit-Breakers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification, in whichFigure 1 is an elevation, and Fig. 2 a crosssection, of a detachedportion of the device embodying my invention.

This invention relates to telegraphic or other instruments in which avibratory armaturelever is attracted to a magnet and separated therefromby mechanical means-as in telegraphic relays, recorders, sounders, &c.

Various expedients have heretofore been employed for retracting thearmature-lever from the magnet-such, for example, as the retractileforce of a spring; and special means have been devised having no otherobject than to prevent the armature from sticking to the faces of themagnet by reason of 'the residuary magnetism. Other devices forregulating the proximity of the armature-lever to the magnet, therapidity of its vibrations, and the ad- I justment of its retractileforce, have also been applied.

The object of my invention is to produce the essential functions of. aninstrument of this class by a simplified construction of thearmature-lever, whereby it is retracted without the assistance ofadditional devices, and its proximity to the magnet regulated by asimple and efficient attachment.

In order that others may understand my invention, I will first proceedto set forth the construction, arrangement, and operation of the partsof a device embodying it, and subsequently to point out in the claimsits novel characteristics.

In the drawings, M represents an electromagnet consisting of a singlebobbin mounted upon a suitable frame-work, which may be secured to atable or sounding-board in any wellknown manner, the vibratingarmature-lever A being pivoted at a to the frame-work, and arranged tovibrate to and from the magnet in a direction parallel to itself.

The armature-lever A is preferably constructed of a bar or rod, with itslong arm I) gradually increasing in size toward the free or vibratingend, and its short arm 0 provided with the adjustable counterpoise d.The object in constructing the long arm I) of the armaturelever A ofgreater thickness or size at its outer end or near the core of themagnet is to effect its retraction by the force of gravity, therebydispensing with additional devices for the purpose.

It is obvious that the additional weight distributed near the outer endof the armaturelever may be produced by ditterent forms of thelever;butthe form shown-that of a gradually -increasing thickness from itspivoted point-is well adapted to the action of the adjustable slide B,which regulates the proximity of the armature to the magnet. This slideor gage Bis fitted to and adjusted upon a straight rigid bar, 6,connected to the framework and arranged parallel to the vibratingarmature-lever upon which the slide moves. The rigid bare may beinclined or beveled to produce the same result. The slide 13 isconstructed to inclose the bar 0 and armaturelever A (shown in section,Fig. 1) with sufficient space to permit the free vibration of thearmature therein to the desired extent and according to the position ofthe slide, which, when adjusted from the fulcrum and toward the free endof the armature-lever, decreases the distance of the latter from themagnet, and also the extent of the vibrations, and vice versa when theslide or gage is adjusted in the opposite direction.

It will be seen that the retractile force of the armature-lever A isconstant in this device, and cures a defect existing in the use of aspring for this purpose, for the reason that when the armature isbrought nearer to the magnet the attractive force increases more rapidlythan the retractile force of the spring.

The function of the counterpoise (1, arranged upon the opposite or shortarm 0 of the armature, is to increase or diminish the weight of the longarm I), and is too well understood to need further description.

Having thus fully described the construction and operation of the partscontaining my improvements, it is deemed unnecessary to repeat hereinthe principle of operation or the in combination with a device forregulating the extent of its vibrations, substantially as set forth.

2. A vibrating armature-lever of an electromagnet, in combination withan adjustable sliding gage, E, whereby the proximity of the armature tothe magnet and the extent of its vibrations is regulated.

JAMES C. REED. Witnesses:

J. H. BARCLAY, O. W. FORBES.

